22 counted dead in recent clashes in Wulu of Lakes state.

By Manyang Mayom June 10, 2009 (RUMBEK) -- Tribal clashes since May 31 between the Jur tribe of Wulu County and Dinka Agar from Rumbek East have left at least 22 people confirmed dead and a number of people injured.

Women in Mathiang fleeing the Wulu conflict. Lakes state, June 6, 2009 (photo M. Mayom)

Southern Sudan Police Services (SSPS) and SPLA Military Police forces already had been deployed to the area in order to keep the two communities apart, preventing fighting with AK-47 guns. At present the area is described as tense and volatile. There are also confirmed reports of vehicles being targeted on the route between Mvolo and Wulu which have resulted in at least 7 deaths; the motive behind this appears to be revenge sought by angry family whose relatives had been killed recently following the death of a state official, Sabit Nochola Majok, who was ambushed and killed on the road in Rumpanbuolriak forest by unknown gunmen. Late Mr. Sabit worked in the Lakes state Ministry of Local Government and Law Enforcement and he was said to be the sole university graduate of Bahr-El-Ghazal among the Wulu Jur-beli community. As a result of the revenge attacks, one woman was shot dead nearby Wulu in a mini-bus last week, among others killed. "At present, humanitarian vehicles have not been the subject of any attacks but they have to pay attention in case of ambush, especially with regards to the UN local employees' safety," said a CID police personnel. Since clashes initiated on June 1 between Rumbek East County youth of Agar and Wulu inhabitants, the roads linking Wako, Mvolo, and south of Rumbek are found to be risky as the result of hijackings of cars for the purpose of revenge. According to SPLM information officer Jamal Kakaya, the situation is now coming back to normal since SPLM leaders launched a condemnation of both sides involved in the incident. Kakaya himself is a mixed blood whose mother belongs to Rumbek East and whose father belonged to Wulu. He advocates for youth from both sides to stay at peace with each other so that the upcoming general election can be contested as the battlefield for victory for New Sudan. Last week over 600 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) appeared in Mathiang primary school compound, most of whom are children and women from four chiefdoms of Dinka Agar of Rumbek East County. The new Deputy Governor and a Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement, David Nok Marial, is establishing his presence in the tense areas of Lakes state. "I don't need more death in my second term now," affirmed Nok last week when he was talking to Dinka IDPs in Mathiang primary school, which is south of Pacong Payam of Rumbek East County. (ST)

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